Flawed employment data
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) of the Union Ministry of Labour, if you have worked for one hour in the preceding seven days, then you are counted as an employed person. This definition includes even those with a minimal amount of work, which many economists find extremely problematic. No wonder the data that the ministry has put out regarding unemployment is being laughed at in every international forum. The numbers are inaccurate and mask the severity of joblessness and underemployment in the country. Outdated and wrong/manipulated definitions of what constitutes a job in a country of approximately 1.5 billion people are distorting the true scale of the malaise. This could have dangerous social repercussions in the future.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Ring in changes to squad
This refers to the reasoning of our bowling coach, Morne Morkel, about the non-inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. His view was that India needs more consistency from the top six, which was the case during the first two Tests. The first Test was lost only due to the wayward bowling by Shardul Thakur, whose contribution with the bat too was dismal. Still, he was preferred ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, who would have made a sea of difference in knocking out the England batsmen. Despite the dismal show by Shardul Thakur, he was recalled to the team for the Old Trafford Test, where his bowling was worse than even in a club tournament. Our team is not playing white-ball cricket to need many all-rounders to bat till No. 8 or 9. If we have to win a Test match, we should have bowlers who can take 20 wickets. Kuldeep would have been a better performer than Shardul Thakur. Moreover, Kuldeep is not a bunny with the bat. Anyway, there is no point in crying over lost opportunities. We sincerely hope that the think tank includes Kuldeep for the Oval Test, where he would be worth his weight in gold. Even at the cost of Jasprit Bumrah, who seems not to be 100% fit, Kuldeep should play the Oval Test.
N Mahadevan, Chennai
Make resurvey plans public
The Goa government ordered a full resurvey of the state in 2004. Talukas where all villages were notified include Mormugao, Tiswadi, Ponda, and Bardez. The state spent Rs 7.87 crore for the resurvey conducted by a private company. Physical survey work has been completed in all 12 talukas. Why is the department not issuing the resurvey plans to the public? Are the plans inaccurate or unreliable? Are there errors? Are people’s houses mapped under incorrect survey numbers? Are roads shown over existing homes? Is the layout of structures and roads not properly superimposed? The government should disclose the facts and complete the procedure. At least the resurvey plans should be made available on the official website for public inspection. Some villages may already be covered. Why was public money of Rs 8 crore wasted? Let the engaged company complete the rectification. Meanwhile, the completed plans should be displayed online and in land survey offices.
Rajesh Banaulikar, Arpora-Nagoa
An oppressed lot
The SS Exodus carried 4,700 Jews from France—where they had taken shelter during WWII—in August 1947 to the Promised Land of Palestine. Refused entry, they were sent back to France. Upon arrival, the passengers refused to disembark and were then redirected to British-occupied Germany. Public outcry halted this move, and they were sent to holding camps in Cyprus. In 1949, they finally reached Palestine. This was the needed action to resettle the Jews, except for the controversial fact of reaching Palestine. The Promised Land, including Jerusalem and Bethlehem, could have been made an international zone administered by an autonomous body. That may have prevented the 1947 war and the ongoing conflict. Instead, we now see the descendants of those Jews inflicting suffering on the Palestinians, who had once offered them shelter. The brutal treatment under Benjamin Netanyahu mirrors what Jews once endured under the Nazis. Palestinians are shot while queuing for aid, forced from homes, and relocated under suspicion of mass killings. Media personnel too are affected. Despite warnings from the UK and EU, Netanyahu seems determined to eliminate Hamas, stalling ceasefires and demanding their exclusion from post-war governance. Israel’s military actions resemble genocide and should be taken up by the International Court of Justice.
S Kamat, Mysuru
